The Fort Collins Report is proud to announce the launch of a new investigative series: “Under Watch: Surveillance in Fort Collins.” This ongoing series will explore how surveillance technologies deployed by government agencies, law enforcement, and private corporations are shaping daily life in our community.
From license plate readers and public camera networks to data collected by social media algorithms and smart city infrastructure, surveillance in Fort Collins is more pervasive than many residents realize. This series will shine a light on who is watching, what data is being collected, how it is being stored and shared, and what rights residents have when it comes to their personal privacy.
The series will examine public records, city contracts, corporate partnerships, and law enforcement practices to expose the expanding surveillance apparatus in Fort Collins. Early reporting reveals the growing role of third-party tech vendors, automated monitoring tools, and the potential for misuse, often with minimal public oversight or understanding.
Topics covered in the series will include:
- The City’s use of surveillance tools like traffic cameras, drones, and predictive policing software
- Public-private partnerships involving data collection and behavioral tracking
- Corporate data harvesting from retail, telecom, and tech companies operating locally
- Legal rights, data security, and avenues for public accountability
The Fort Collins Report is committed to independent, fact-based journalism. As a nonprofit newsroom, our mission is to inform and empower the public through transparency and investigation.